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PIA News Service - Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Multi-sectors to celebrate 24th National
Statistics Month in October 2013

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 27 (PIA) – The National
Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) together with other government agencies,
local government units, academic institutions, and private sector at the
national and subnational levels are set to celebrate the 24th National
Statistics Month in October 2013.

This activity is pursuant to Presidential
Proclamation No. 647, Declaring the Month of October of Every year as the
National Statistics Month (NSM), issued on September 20, 1990 by then President
Corazon C. Aquino, said National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)
Caraga OIC-Regional Director and Acting Regional Statistical Coordination
Committee (RSCC) chairperson Mylah Faye Aurora B. Cariño.

Cariño relayed that the observance of this event
has two-fold objectives, viz: (a) promote, enhance and instill nationwide
awareness and appreciation of the importance and value of statistics to the
different sectors of society; and (b) to elicit the cooperation and support of
the general public in upgrading the quality and standards of statistics in the
country.

Carino further encouraged the different sectors
to submit a detailed list of their proposed NSM activities on or before August
29, 2013, in order to synchronize all efforts for the celebration.

This year’s celebration anchored on the theme,
“Estadistika na may Halaga sa Bawat Filipino” (Statistics that Matter to Every
Filipino), highlights the vital roles that data and statistics play in the
everyday lives of Filipinos.

For more information, RSCC/NEDA can be reached
at telephone number: (085) 342-5774; 341-4195. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)

Caraga peace council forms joint investigating
team for displaced persons in AgSur

By Johny S. Natad

BUTUAN CITY, August 27 (PIA) -- The Regional
Peace and Order Council (RPOC) of Caraga has created a Joint Investigating
Teams on IDPs. in response to the reported internally displaced person (IDPs)
situation in Loreto, Agusan del Sur.

In a letter dated August 19 to Caraga regional
peace and order council (RPOC), Kahugpongan alang sa Kalambuan Association/ IDP
Spokesperson Ricky C. Lope, HELP Agusan Sur Co-initiator and Spokesman Susan E.
Claro, and HELP Agusan Sur Co-initiator and United Church of Christ in the
Philippines Agusan District Conference Minister Rev. Jesse A. Pagalan appealed
the Caraga RPOC for urgent action about the IDPs from Loreto who are taking
temporary shelter in Davao City.

It was revealed that “around 500 individuals
were forced to evacuate due to intensified military operations by the 26th
Infantry Batallion and paramilitary group-Bagani Force in the four barangays of
Loreto, Agusan del Sur. Apparently, internal displacement happened wherein
hundreds of families of Agusanon Manobo lumads and peasants took refuge at the
Barangay 5A Gym, Bankerohan, Davao City after the provincial government of
Agusan refused to heed their humanitarian needs and appeals.”

The HELP Agusan Sur and IDPs sent their appeal
to RPOC stipulating alleged existence of illegal private armed group and
torture, and raised concerns and request for humanitarian assistance. They
bared that the conflict has affected the livelihoods of IDPs and deprived the
Manobo tribe from their ancestral domain.

With this, the Caraga RPOC immediately created a
joint investigating team on August 19 to validate the allegations of the HELP
Agusan Sur and IDPs from Loreto. The team will also conducting meetings
necessary to discuss pertinent issues/concern on the IDPs, and prepare report
and recommend measures based on the findings.

The joint investigating team headed by the DILG
Caraga Regional Director Lilibeth Famacion is composed of the regional directors
from Commission on Human Rights, Department of Social Welfare and Development,
National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, Office of Civil Defense, National
Economic and Development Authority, Philippine Information Agency, Philippine
National Police-PRO 13 and commander of 401st Infantry Brigade of 4ID
Philippine Army.

Meanwhile, Famacion revealed that the RPOC will
be conducting special meeting on August 28 to discuss appropriate measures that
the team will undertake in order to come up with a comprehensive approaches
about the appeal of HELP Agusan Sur and the IDPs. (FEA/JSN, PIA-Caraga)

Public Consultation on SK conducted in Butuan

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 27 (PIA) - The Department of
the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Caraga headed by Regional Director
Lilibeth Famacion conducted on Friday, the Public Consultation on Sangguniang
Kabataan (SK) at the Father Saturnino Urios University (FSUU)-AVR2, this city
with students from different colleges, representatives of government agencies,
religious sector and private sector as participants.

Dir. Famacion said that the Public Consultation
is initiated to generate categorical stand/views from stakeholders on SK; and
whether to abolish or reform the SK.

“The DILG will prepare a report regarding the
outcome of said consultation and will submit copy of report to the Office of
the President,” Famacion said.

Famacion further clarified that opinions of the
representatives from government agencies and organizations do not necessarily
represent the opinion of their agency/organization.

Participants from various sectors were able to
express their opinions whether to reform or abolish the SK and whether to
push-through or postpone the election on October 28, 2013.

Most of the students who participated in the
consultation had expressed common opinions that SK does not need to be
abolished but to be reformed instead. According to them, accountability scheme
in SK should be improved; more strict policies must be imposed to reform the
SK; and government should provide a more structured programs for SK.

Also, as to whether to push-through or postpone
this year's barangay election, students’ opinion varies.

Meanwhile, there were also participants coming
from the public sector who expressed that they want SK to be abolished.
According to them, SK officials nowadays are already influenced by 'traditional
politicians' who are corrupt. There was also a representative from the same
sector who expressed to retain SK but abolish SK honorarium.

It was also learned that in totality, majority
of the participants opted that barangay election on October 2013 should be
postponed to give ample time for the reformation of SK and its system.
(JPG/PIA-Caraga)

52 participants complete Speakers Bureau
Training, Basic News Writing

By 1Lt. Joe Patrick Martinez

BUTUAN CITY, August 27 (PIA) – Some 52 students
from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Army completed the
5-day Speakers Bureau Training and Basic News Writing on Sunday, August 25,
2013.

The activity, which was started on August 21 was
organized by the 402nd Infantry Brigade, 4th Infantry Division held at their
headquarters in Barangay Bancasi, this city.

During the lectures, selected subject matter
experts from the media, academe, and other agencies were invited to teach the
students followed by a panel discussion on the fourth day to synthesize their
learning experiences and to guide the students on their individual
performances.

“It is my honor and privileged to be invited by
the men in uniform. I was able to share my expertise especially the techniques
in effective communication skills. I congratulate you for completing this
training,” said Prof. Marilou H. Mella, Chairperson, Languages and Social
Sciences at Saint Joseph Institute of Technology, Butuan City.

Referring to the graduates of the said seminar,
she also reminded the four virtues which served as their guide to be a better
public servant. “To everyone, just remember these four virtues: Prudence,
Justice, Fortitude, and Temperance. These virtues are your guide to make you a
better public servant as you go back to your respective areas. People will
surely love you and respect you,” she added.

“It is my intent to make sure that the people in
Caraga will have an army that is highly professional, respectable and
dependable especially in performing their mandate that is to protect you and
our land. It is our vision that you will have a world-class Army that is a
source of national pride,” said Col. Ferdinand F. Quidilla, Comanding Officer
of the Philippine Army’s 402nd Infantry Brigade.

Another seminar will open this week to refresh
the soldiers and PNP on the Human Rights, International Humanitarian Law, and
the Rules of Engagements. This will be the regular trainings per quarter to be
conducted by the brigade and battalions to ensure no violations of their troops
when they perform their duties in their respective areas. (402nd
Brigade/PIA-Caraga)